Restoration of E-cadherin expression by selective Cox-2 inhibition and the clinical relevance of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) accompanied by the downregulation of E-cadherin has been thought to promote metastasis. Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) is presumed to contribute to cancer progression through its multifaceted function, and recently its inverse relationship with E-cadherin was suggested. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether selective Cox-2 inhibitors restore the expression of E-cadherin in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells, and to examine the possible correlations of the expression levels of EMT-related molecules with clinicopathological factors in HNSCC. METHODS: We used quantitative real-time PCR to examine the effects of three selective Cox-2 inhibitors, i.e., celecoxib, NS-398, and SC-791 on the gene expressions of E-cadherin (CDH-1) and its transcriptional repressors (SIP1, Snail, Twist) in the human HNSCC cell lines HSC-2 and HSC-4. To evaluate the changes in E-cadherin expression on the cell surface, we used a flowcytometer and immunofluorescent staining in addition to Western blotting. We evaluated and statistically analyzed the clinicopathological factors and mRNA expressions of Cox-2, CDH-1 and its repressors in surgical specimens of 40 patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). RESULTS: The selective Cox-2 inhibitors upregulated the E-cadherin expression on the cell surface of the HNSCC cells through the downregulation of its transcriptional repressors. The extent of this effect depended on the baseline expression levels of both E-cadherin and Cox-2 in each cell line. A univariate analysis showed that higher Cox-2 mRNA expression (p = 0.037), lower CDH-1 mRNA expression (p = 0.020), and advanced T-classification (p = 0.036) were significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis in TSCC. A multivariate logistic regression revealed that lower CDH-1 mRNA expression was the independent risk factor affecting lymph node metastasis (p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the appropriately selective administration of certain Cox-2 inhibitors may have an anti-metastatic effect through suppression of the EMT by restoring E-cadherin expression. In addition, the downregulation of CDH-1 resulting from the EMT may be closely involved in lymph node metastasis in TSCC

トシ ニ オケル ナガミヒナゲシ PAPAVER DUBIUM ノ セイイクチカクダイヨウイン

ナガミヒナゲシが日本国内で生育地を拡大している原因を解明するため,1961年に日本で初めて帰化が報告された東京都世田谷区と,1990年代以降急速に生育地が増加した東京都稲城市で生育地調査を行った。ナガミヒナゲシの生育地数は,世田谷地区と稲城地区の双方とも道路植桝で最も多く,次いで駐車場や道路に面した住宅地となり,自動車の通過する道路周辺に多いことが判明した。ナガミヒナゲシの生育地は道路植桝から周辺の駐車場へと自動車の移動に伴って拡大したと考えられる。この過程を検証するため,ナガミヒナゲシの在・不在データを応答変数として,道路植桝から駐車場までの距離と舗装の有無,それらの交互作用を説明変数とするロジスティック回帰分析を行った。AICによるモデル選択の結果,世田谷地区ではいずれの説明変数(距離,舗装の有無,それらの交互作用)も選択されなかったのに対し,稲城地区では距離(P=0.07)および距離と舗装の有無の交互作用(P=0.04)がナガミヒナゲシの存在に負の影響を及ぼしていた。これらの結果から,(1)帰化年代の古い世田谷地区では生育地拡大が完了しており,主要道路からの距離や舗装の有無とは無関係にナガミヒナゲシが生育していること,(2)稲城地区では生育地拡大の途上であり,その過程は道路植桝からの距離だけでなく,距離と舗装の有無との交互作用によって影響されることが示唆された。We investigated the distribution pattern of Papaver dubium in Setagaya ward and in Inagi city of Tokyo metropolis. P. dubium was firstly naturalized in Setagaya area in 1961, but in Inagi area, its distribution has been rapidly expanding from the 1990s. The number of P. dubium population was largest at planting curb of main road, and decreased in the following order : parking lot, residential place facing the roadside. These facts indicate that the transportation of seeds by automobile may influence the distribution expansion of P. dubium. We conducted the logistic regression analysis, where the response variable was the existence of P. dubium and the explanatory variables were distance from parking lot to planting curb along main road, pavement of parking lot, and their interaction. As the results of model selection by AIC, any explanatory variable was not selected in Setagaya area, but in Inagi area, distance (P=0.07) and interaction of distance and pavement (P=0.04) negatively influenced the existence of P. dubium. These results suggest that in Setagaya area, where P. dubium naturalized approximately 50 years before, habitat expansion may be completed and at the present stage, the distance from main road and the pavement of parking lot do not influence its distribution. In contrast, in Inagi area where P. dubium recently naturalized, both the distance and the pavement of parking lot regulate the process of expansion

Factor analysis for construct validity of a trunk impairment scale in Parkinson’s disease: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesTo investigate the construct validity of the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), which was developed to assess trunk impairment in patients with stroke, in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).DesignThis retrospective, cross-sectional study enrolled consecutive PD inpatients. Correlation analysis was performed to clarify whether the TIS assessment was related to other balance functions, lower extremity muscle strength, or walking ability. Factor analysis was performed to see how the background factors of TIS differ from balance function, lower limb muscle strength, and walking ability.ResultsExamining the data of 471 patients with PD, there were relationships between TIS and the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (r = 0.67), Barthel Index (r = 0.57), general lower limb extension torque (r = 0.51), two-minute walk test (r = 0.54), Hoehn and Yahr stage (r = −0.61), and Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III total points (r = −0.59). Factor analysis showed that TIS items were divided into three factors (an abdominal muscles and righting reflex component; a perception and verticality component; and a rotational component), differing from other scales that included clinical assessment items.ConclusionThe TIS can be useful for assessing the underlying trunk impairment as a basis for activities of daily living, gait function, and balance ability in patients with PD

Distribution characteristics and its controlling facters of isoprene dissolved in surface seawater in the Southern Ocean

第2回極域科学シンポジウム/第34回気水圏シンポジウム 11月17日（木） 統計数理研究所 セミナー室

Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use in early acute respiratory distress syndrome : Insights from the LUNG SAFE study

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Concerns exist regarding the prevalence and impact of unnecessary oxygen use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined this issue in patients with ARDS enrolled in the Large observational study to UNderstand the Global impact of Severe Acute respiratory FailurE (LUNG SAFE) study. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the LUNG SAFE study, we wished to determine the prevalence and the outcomes associated with hyperoxemia on day 1, sustained hyperoxemia, and excessive oxygen use in patients with early ARDS. Patients who fulfilled criteria of ARDS on day 1 and day 2 of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were categorized based on the presence of hyperoxemia (PaO2 > 100 mmHg) on day 1, sustained (i.e., present on day 1 and day 2) hyperoxemia, or excessive oxygen use (FIO2 ≥ 0.60 during hyperoxemia). Results: Of 2005 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 131 (6.5%) were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 55 mmHg), 607 (30%) had hyperoxemia on day 1, and 250 (12%) had sustained hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use occurred in 400 (66%) out of 607 patients with hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use decreased from day 1 to day 2 of ARDS, with most hyperoxemic patients on day 2 receiving relatively low FIO2. Multivariate analyses found no independent relationship between day 1 hyperoxemia, sustained hyperoxemia, or excess FIO2 use and adverse clinical outcomes. Mortality was 42% in patients with excess FIO2 use, compared to 39% in a propensity-matched sample of normoxemic (PaO2 55-100 mmHg) patients (P = 0.47). Conclusions: Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use are both prevalent in early ARDS but are most often non-sustained. No relationship was found between hyperoxemia or excessive oxygen use and patient outcome in this cohort. Trial registration: LUNG-SAFE is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02010073publishersversionPeer reviewe

The Preliminary Study of Water-Retention Related Properties of Biochar Produced from Various Feedstock at Different Pyrolysis Temperatures

Physicochemical properties of biochar, which are used as a soil amendment material in agricultural fields, are different depending on biomass feedstock and pyrolysis processes. In this study, we evaluated the influence of feedstock type and pyrolysis temperature on the water-retention related properties of biochar. Wood-chips [cedar (CE) and cypress (CY)]; moso bamboo (MB); rice husk (RH); sugarcane bagasse (SB); poultry manure (PM) and agricultural wastewater sludge (WS) were each pyrolysed at 400, 600 and 800 &deg;C with a retention time of two hours. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs (SEM), hydrophobicity indices, pore-size distribution measured by mercury-intrusion porosimetry, water-retention curves (WRCs) and plant-available water capacities (AWCs) of the biochars were measured to evaluate their potentials as soil-amendment materials for improving soils&rsquo; water-retention. As the pyrolysis temperature was increased, the hydrophobicity index decreased. On the other hand, pyrolysis temperature did not affect the distribution of micrometre-range pores, which are useful for plant-available water, of biochars. The AWCs of the biochars formed from CE, CY and SB were greater than those produced from other feedstocks, at 600 and 800 &deg;C. Therefore, we can suggest that the biochars derived from wood-chips (CE and CY) and SB have greater potential for enhancing soils&rsquo; water-retention

The Preliminary Study of Water-Retention Related Properties of Biochar Produced from Various Feedstock at Different Pyrolysis Temperatures

Physicochemical properties of biochar, which are used as a soil amendment material in agricultural fields, are different depending on biomass feedstock and pyrolysis processes. In this study, we evaluated the influence of feedstock type and pyrolysis temperature on the water-retention related properties of biochar. Wood-chips [cedar (CE) and cypress (CY)]; moso bamboo (MB); rice husk (RH); sugarcane bagasse (SB); poultry manure (PM) and agricultural wastewater sludge (WS) were each pyrolysed at 400, 600 and 800 &#176;C with a retention time of two hours. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs (SEM), hydrophobicity indices, pore-size distribution measured by mercury-intrusion porosimetry, water-retention curves (WRCs) and plant-available water capacities (AWCs) of the biochars were measured to evaluate their potentials as soil-amendment materials for improving soils&#8217; water-retention. As the pyrolysis temperature was increased, the hydrophobicity index decreased. On the other hand, pyrolysis temperature did not affect the distribution of micrometre-range pores, which are useful for plant-available water, of biochars. The AWCs of the biochars formed from CE, CY and SB were greater than those produced from other feedstocks, at 600 and 800 &#176;C. Therefore, we can suggest that the biochars derived from wood-chips (CE and CY) and SB have greater potential for enhancing soils&#8217; water-retention